China Bans Ramadan in Muslim Region

CRACKING DOWN

Updated Apr. 14, 2017 3:33PM ET / Published Jul. 02, 2014 10:11AM ET

Carlos Barria/Reuters

Schools, government agencies, and local party organizations in the heavily Muslim northwest of China have been told not to take part in the fasting during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. According to officials, the move is to protect the well-being of students and to prevent institutions from promoting religion. The region of Xinjiang was already tense—it’s been the location of multiple attacks this year that the government has tied to Uighur Muslims. According to human-rights groups, government officials have thrown parties and served food to test and see if Muslim residents are fasting. The official ruling party is atheist and often sees religious groups as a threat to one-party rule.